Process of producing condensation products from phenols with formic aldehyde.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTON WEINDEL, OE LEVEBKUSEN, NE

FARBENFABRIKEN VORM.- FRIEDR. J3 1 A CORPORATION OF GERMANY.

AR COL OGNE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO AYER & 60., OF ELIBER FELD, GERMANY,

PROCESS OF PRODUCING CONiOENSATION PRODUCTS FROM PHENOLS WITH FORMIC EHYDE.

ALD

1,039,859. pecification r Letters Patent. No Drawing. Application filed January 21, 1911.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912. Serial No. 608,908.

To-all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTON WEINDEL, doctor of philosophy, chemist, citizen of the German Empire, residing at Leverkusen, near Cologne, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in New Processes for Producing Condensation Products from Phenols with Formic Aldehyde, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of producing synthetic resins and of controlling the condensation of phenols and formaldehyde. Ever since Bayer in 1872 showed that phenols and formaldehyde react upon each other, this reaction has been studied by many investigators. Tollens, as shown by Hosaeus, (Berl. Berz'cizte 1892, p. 3214) already obtained the various series of products of condensation of phenols and formaldehyde which were either soluble or difiicultly soluble or insoluble in the ordinary organic solvents or in alkali. Hcnschke (German Patent 157,533, of February 22, 1903), showed that the soluble variety of these products of condensation was converted into the insoluble variety by higher heating. A practical application of these condensation products, also known as synthetic resins, was first pointed out by Smith (German Patent 112,685 of October 10, 1899), who describes sheets and slabs which could be sawed, cut, molded and polished. Blumer (French Patent 329,982, March 5, 1903) was the first to demonstrate the use of the alcohol soluble variety of these synthetic resins as shellac substitutes. It has become of importance to regulate the process of condensation so that either the alcohol soluble varieties or the insoluble varieties mightbe formed.

have found that by the addition, of salts of such sulfur acids which contain sulfur in the form of a lower de we of oxidation than that contained in suli irous acid namely salts of hydrosulfurous acid H S O which is a stable compound and 1s known in a free salts (hydrosulfites) or of sulfoxylic acid, the acid of the formula H SO which is not known in the free state but only in the form of salts in double combination with formaldehyde, such as the formaldehyde-sulfoxylate of sodium, the condensing of phenols with forhey can also be obtained by retarding the reaction by addition of an insufiiclent quantity of hydrosulfite, see Example 3.

Example 1: 1,000 parts of phenol are mixed wit 1,000

formaldehyde acid of 24 B. the separation of oil is observed, which is usually the case after a few minutes. Then 10 parts of hydrosulfite of sodium are added, when the condensation is immediately arrested. The separated, colorless oil congeals on cooling to a pasty, plastic compound which on reheating melts and assumes a consistency which permits pouring. To completely purify the oil, it is stirred up with either cold or warm Water or steam is conducted into the mas. It is soluble in the ordinary organic solvents, like alcohol and acetone and insoluble in water and acids. It may beused as a shellac substitute.

Example 2: 1,000 parts of phenol are mixed with 1,000 parts of an aqueous solution of formaldehyde containing 40 per cent. formaldehyde and 20 parts of hydrochloric acid of 24 B. The mixture is heated as above until the separation of oil is observed, then 17 parts of formaldehyde-sulfoxylate of sodium are added, whereupon the reaction is arrested. The mass thus obtained is water clear, almost colorless and congeals on cooling to a white, opaque plastic compound. he mass is soluble in the ordinary organic solvents, ether, insoluble in Water and acids. On

heating formaldehyde is generated and upon heating to about 140 C. resinous products are obtained which' may be used as shellac substitute. I

Example 3: 1,000 parts of phenol are mixed with 1,000 parts of,an aqueous .solution of formaldehyde containin 40 per cent. formaldehyde and 10 parts ofdiydrochloric acid of 24 B. The mixture is boiled until the separation of oil is observed. Then 7 to 8 parts of hydrosulfite of sodium or 11 to 14 parts of form-aldehyde-sulfoxylate of sodium are added. The mixture which still contains a small quantity of free hydrochloric acid is further boiled the condensation not totally arrested as in Example 1, unti a white Viscoid massis obtained being a solidafter. cooling. It is insoluble in the usual organic solvents.- I

Instea of phenol homologues of phenol and analogous substances such as oxybenzylalcohol I o n on oaon may be used. Instead I of formaldehyde,

paraform or s' ilar aldehyde substances maybe employed. Instead of the hydrosulfite of sodium, other salts of hydrosulfurous acid may be employed, for example the zinc double salt described in German Patent No. 217,038. 1

Iclaim:" 1. In the production of phenol-aldehyde condensation products the process which comprises arresting or retarding the con-1 densation reaction adding to the reaction mass a salt of a sulfur acld which contains sation reaction by adding moting the separation of place, addingua salt of a sulfur acid which,

'tially as described.

. set my hand in the presence of ing witnesses.

sulfur in a lower state of oxidation than in sulfurous acid.

2. In the production of phenol-aldehyde condensation products the process whi comprises arresting or retarding the condento the reaction mass a salt of hydrosulfurous acid.

3. The process of producingphenol-aldehyde condensation products which comprises condensing a phenol and an aldehyde by heating in the presence of an agent proth' condensation product takes contains sul r in a lower state of oxidation than in sulfurous acid, and isolating the resulting product of condensation, substan- 4. The process of producing phenol-alde; hyde condensation products which com prises condensing a phenol and an aldehyde by heating in the presence of an agent promoting the condensation until the separation of the condensation product takes place adding a salt of hydrosulfurous acid, an isolating the resulting product of conden sation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto two subscrib- ANTON WEINDEL. [Ls] Witnesses:

WALTER Vonmzorrr,

ALFRED HENKEL.

condensation reaction until the 

